Report Title:

Dental Health

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to the department of health for the establishment or expansion of community-based dental health clinics that are operated by federally qualified health centers to provide a continuum of dental care to medicaid and QUEST‑eligible adults and children, the developmentally disabled, and the uninsured.

 

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2543

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO DENTAL HEALTH.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that inadequate dental care is a serious matter and has been identified as a major health concern for low-income adults and children, individuals with developmental disabilities, and the uninsured.  These individuals continually face great challenges in obtaining dental care services in an appropriate and timely manner, and the legislature finds this situation to be unacceptable.

     The legislature further finds that federally qualified health centers are the most appropriate and efficient entities in which to establish community-based dental clinics that will provide a continuum of dental care based on best practices for QUEST and medicaid fee-for-service eligible adults and children, individuals with developmental disabilities, and the uninsured.

     The purpose of this Act is to improve the State's ability to address this dental health crisis by appropriating funds to the department of health for the establishment or expansion of community-based dental health clinics operated by federally qualified health centers to serve this population.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $         or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 to establish or expand community-based dental health clinics operated by federally qualified health centers to provide a continuum of dental care to QUEST and medicaid fee-for-service eligible adults and children, individuals with developmental disabilities, and the uninsured.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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